Original Tequila Sunrise

Difford’s Guide
Discerning Drinkers (88 ratings)

Serve in a Collins glass

Ingredients:
1 12 oz Patrón Silver blanco tequila
12 oz Lime juice (freshly squeezed)
14 oz Monin Grenadine Syrup
0.08 oz Joseph Cartron Double Crème de Cassis de Bourgogne
2 drop Saline solution 4:1 (20g sea salt to 80g water)
3 13 oz Thomas Henry Soda Water optional
× 1 1 serving
Read about cocktail measures and measuring

Garnish: Lime wedge

How to make:

POUR first 5 ingredients into glass and fill with ice. TOP with soda water.

Strength & taste guide:

No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Strength 6/10
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Sweet to sour 6/10

Review:

Tequila notes shine with delicate berry fruit (and depending on your ingredients subtle vanilla) in this delicious 1930's version of the Sunrise.

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History:

The older of the two versions of the Tequila Sunrise, this one was served and is thought to have been created around 1930 at the Agua Caliente racetrack hotel, spa, and casino resort in Tijuana, Mexico. It is recommended in the Bottoms Up! drinks guide come menu published by the resort and, handily, this vintage publication authenticates the Tequila Sunrise's 1930s connection to Agua Caliente. This describes the Sunrise as being "A Fascinating Tequila Fantasy -- The Drink you can Never Forget -- A Mans Drink -- A Womans Drink."

The birth of this cocktail prior to 1933 is supported by its appearance in Hollywood Cocktails, published in November that year (just before the end of US Prohibition) with a recipe identical to that in the Agua Caliente publication. And as that says, "Under no circumstances alter this order."

THE SUNRISE COCKTAIL
1 Jigger Tequila
½ Lime, squeezed, insert peel
6 Dashes Grenadine
2 Dashes Creme de Cassis
2 Lumps Ice
Serve in a highball glass filled to brim with Roca Blanca water or fizz with seltzer.

Hollywood Cocktails, 1933

The "original" Tequila Sunrise should not be confused with the "Sunrise" in Harry Craddock's 1930 The Savoy Cocktail Book and some other notable vintage tomes. This quite different cocktail is a layered shot comprising equal parts grenadine, crème de violette, Yellow Chartreuse, and triple sec.

Some misguided folk say the Tequila Sunrise was created in the early 1940s by Gene Sulit, a longstanding bartender at the Arizona Biltmore resort's Wright bar where this cocktail is known as a "Biltmore Original Tequila Sunrise," I've not found anything earlier than the 2000s supporting this and although Sulit worked at the resort in the 1930s, its bar was not operational due to Prohibition.

The better known and more recent Tequila Sunrise with orange juice dates from 1970.

Nutrition:

One serving of Original Tequila Sunrise contains 130 calories

Alcohol content:

  • 1.2 standard drinks
  • 9.88% alc./vol. (9.88° proof)
  • 16.8 grams of pure alcohol

Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.

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John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
11th August 2022 at 20:05
I found this outstanding and perfect in a warm afternoon. I hate the overly sweet tequila cocktails. You can taste the tequila. I would agree that you could use reposado if you wanted a stronger tequila taste.
This is very accurate to the drinks I have had in Mexico made for the locals and not the tourist. Cooling and resfeshding which you need in the hot Mexican sun.
John Hinojos’ Avatar John Hinojos
11th August 2022 at 20:06
Forgot to mention. This is another cocktail that you must use the best quality you can afford. The tastes are pure and one low quality ingredient can ruin this beautifully balanced cocktail.
Jon Pidwerbecki’s Avatar Jon Pidwerbecki
11th August 2022 at 00:50
Overly tart. Adding orange or watermelon juice helps
9th January 2022 at 01:06
Engaging history
Andy Parnell-Hopkinson’s Avatar Andy Parnell-Hopkinson
8th January 2022 at 21:23
Underwhelming.
1st June 2022 at 18:40
Try doing 1.5 ounces of reposado tequila, 1/2 ounce of a good quality grenadine and cream de cassis or if you don't have cassis use creme de mure, 3/4 of an ounce of lime juice and a drop of angostura bitters and shake it all together and then top with club soda and a pinch of salt or Topo Chico. This variation comes from Anders Erikson and I found it to be delightful.